Communication terminal apparatus and method for displaying characters on communication terminal apparatus

ABSTRACT

A communication terminal apparatus that displays, on a display unit, character data included in e-mail messages, wherein the controlling unit ( 20 ) detects, among pieces of character data, pieces of data for delimiters such as spaces. When the controlling unit ( 20 ) has detected that delimiters of a same kind are arranged in a sequence longer than a predetermined upper limit, the controlling unit ( 20 ) instructs the main display unit ( 2 ′) that the excessive pieces of data for the delimiters beyond the upper limit should not be displayed. The main display unit ( 2 ′) does not display such pieces of data that are specified in the instruction.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to communication terminalapparatuses and methods for displaying characters on communicationterminal apparatuses, and in particular, communication terminalapparatuses that display character messages included in received e-mailmessages and its methods for displaying characters on communicationterminal apparatuses.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In recent years, mobile communication terminal apparatusesaccording to various systems including PHS (Personal Handyphone System),PDC (Personal Digital Cellular Telecommunication System), and CDMA (CodeDivision Multiple Access) have become widespread due to theircompactness and lightness, improvement in communication quality, andreduction in their prices and in the call charges. Originally, thesecommunication terminal apparatuses were generally for the purpose ofvoice communications, but recently they are often used forcommunications via e-mail. In addition, as a way of using communicationterminal apparatuses, it is getting more popular to download and displaydata offered as services from various sites. When a communicationterminal apparatus receives a character message such as one included ina received e-mail message, in order to present the character message tothe user, the communication terminal apparatus converts character codesto character images that can be visually recognized on the displayscreen, and displays them on the display screen by aligning themaccording to the control codes (e.g. line feed codes, tabs, etc.).

[0003] This conventional display method, however, has a problem intreating delimiters such as spaces. For example, when an e-mail messageis created in a provided format using a personal computer (hereafter,referred to as a “PC”) by which the total number of characters to bedisplayed on the screen is large, sometimes space characters are shownin sequence, for example, “□□□N□□E□□W□□S” (“□” denoting a space) as in aheading. When this kind of heading is displayed on a display of acommunication terminal apparatus in which the total number of charactersto be displayed on the screen is only eight per line, the first linereads “□□□N□□E□”, the second line, □W□□S. There is a meaningless linefeed in the middle of the heading, and it is difficult to read. Further,in a case of a communication terminal apparatus that has only a limitednumber of lines on a display, when a lot of line feeds occur like this,the user experiences inconvenience, during operations of the apparatus,that he/she has to scroll the screen frequently. This inconvenientsituation is more likely to occur when a message is created with anapparatus such as a PC, by which the total number of characters to bedisplayed on the screen is large, and is displayed on a mobilecommunication terminal apparatus in which the total number of charactersto be displayed on the screen is small.

[0004] It should be noted here that a delimiter character is (i) any oneof special characters other than alphanumeric characters, “Kana”(Japanese alphabets), and “Kanji” (Chinese characters in the Japaneselanguage), and (ii) is a generic term for symbolic characters that havefunctions to delimit (or separate) characters or words. A typicalexample is a space character. Other examples include special charactersshown in the signature portion of an e-mail message (e. g. “-”, “{tildeover ()}”, “*”) and pictorial characters which the user has optionallycreated or registered.

[0005] In view of the aforementioned problem, an object of the presentinvention is to provide a communication terminal apparatus and a methodfor displaying characters that make it possible to display on the screena character message that includes delimiter characters in a sequence, insuch a way that the receiver of the message is able to easily read themessage without experiencing inconvenience such as having to frequentlyscroll the display.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In order to achieve the object, the present invention provides acommunication terminal apparatus that receives and displays, on adisplay unit, pieces of character data, comprising: a detecting unitoperable to detect, among the received pieces of character data, anoverlong delimiter string which is made up of pieces of data that arefor delimiters of a predetermined kind and are arranged in a sequencelonger than a predetermined upper limit; an inhibition target specifyingunit operable to specify one or more of the pieces of data in theoverlong delimiter string as an inhibition target, which is to beinhibited from being displayed; and a display controlling unit operableto control the display unit so that the received pieces of characterdata except for the inhibition target are displayed.

[0007] With this arrangement, when a character message is to bedisplayed, in a case where delimiter characters are arranged in asequence longer than a predetermined upper limit, by inhibiting part ofthe sequence of delimiter characters from being displayed, it ispossible to display the character message including delimiter charactersin such a way that the user is able to read the message easily withoutexperiencing inconvenience of, for example, having to scroll the displayfrequently.

[0008] The same advantageous effects can be achieved through the programof the present invention that causes a computer to execute theprocessing of the aforementioned communication terminal apparatus, orthe method of the present invention for displaying characters bysequentially executing the processing performed by the components of theapparatus.

[0009] Further, it is also acceptable that the communication terminalapparatus further comprises a designation receiving unit operable toreceive a designation of whether it is necessary to perform the displayinhibition on delimiters, and when the designation receiving unitreceives a designation that it is necessary, the detecting unit performsthe detection of the overlong delimiter string.

[0010] With this arrangement, the user is able to choose freely whetherdisplay inhibition is to be performed or not.

[0011] It is also acceptable that the communication terminal apparatusfurther comprises an upper limit receiving unit operable to receive inadvance a value specified as the predetermined upper limit, or aspecified-kind receiving unit operable to receive what kind of delimiteris specified as the predetermined kind.

[0012] With these arrangements, the user is able to specify (i) the kindof delimiter characters to be the display inhibition target or (ii) thevalue of the upper limit for delimiter characters in a sequence.

[0013] In addition, it is also acceptable to have an arrangement whereinthe delimiter characters are actually space characters.

[0014] The same advantageous effects can be achieved through the methodof the present invention for displaying characters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C are exterior views of the communicationterminal apparatus that is according to the embodiment of the presentinvention and is opened;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a block diagram that shows the structure of thecommunication terminal apparatus in the embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a flow chart that shows the flow of the message displayprocess of the communication terminal apparatus in the embodiment of thepresent invention; and

[0018]FIGS. 4A and 4B show examples of displays on the displaying unitof the communication terminal apparatus in the embodiment of the presentinvention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0019] The following describes the communication terminal apparatus inan embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings.

[0020] The communication terminal apparatus of the present embodiment ischaracterized in that, when displaying a character message, it does notdisplay an excessive part of a sequence of delimiter characters longerthan a predetermined length (a threshold value). The user is able tochoose whether such display inhibition is to be performed or not bysetting the “display inhibition mode” ON or OFF. In addition, the useris also able to specify the threshold value and which kind of delimitercharacters is to be the display inhibition target. The followingexplains an example where the user has specified so that (i) “spacecharacters” among delimiter characters are the inhibition targets, and(ii) space characters positioned second and later in the sequence areinhibited from being displayed. It should be noted that, on the screen,spaces are merely recognized as blanks between other characters;however, in the following explanation, to provide a blank on the screenaccording to a piece of space character data will be expressed as“display a space character”.

[0021] The following explains the structure and operations of thecommunication terminal apparatus of the embodiment.

External Structure

[0022] Firstly, the structure of the communication terminal apparatus ofthe embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings of theexternal views.

[0023]FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C are exterior views of the communicationterminal apparatus in the embodiment, shown as being opened. FIG. 1A isa rear view, FIG. 1B is a front view, and FIG. 1C is a right side view.

[0024] Normally, the communication terminal apparatus 1 is open when theuser performs operations related to calls or e-mail transmission andreception, and is closed when it is on standby.

[0025] The main display unit 2 is, for example, a color liquid crystaldisplay (e. g. a 256-color reflective STN color liquid crystal display),an organic electroluminescence (EL) display, a plasma display panel(PDP), a digital mirror device (DMD), or the like, and displaysinformation to be provided to the user, text information, current timeinformation, image information, and the like. The main display unit 2also displays a character message included in an e-mail message. When acharacter message is displayed, the main display unit 2 is able todisplay five lines, with eight characters per line.

[0026] When the communication terminal apparatus 1 is closed, either thelights or the power of the main display unit 2 get turned off. This way,it is possible to save electricity.

[0027] The flexible keys 3 are used for various purposes in combinationwith other keys and buttons. For example, the flexible keys 3 are usedfor selecting an item from among item buttons displayed at the bottomsection of the main display unit 2. Also, when the communicationterminal apparatus 1 is on standby, one of the flexible keys 3 on theleft works as a function key, and the other of the flexible keys 3 onthe right works as a character key. The four-point button 4 is used formoving the cursor on the screen, scrolling what is displayed, settingthe volume, invoking the memory dial function, redialing, and so on. Thee-mail key 5 is used for making use of each of various e-mail functions(e. g. “Sky Mail”, “Long Mail”, etc.). The e-mail key 5 is also used fordeleting characters displayed on the main display unit 2 and changingthe display screens. The OK key 6 is used for confirming what the userhas selected or the settings the user has made. The end/power key 7 isused for switching the power of the apparatus on and off, ending a call,and putting a call on hold. The ten keys 8 are used for inputtingtelephone numbers and characters.

[0028] The microphone 9 takes in the voice of the user during calls. Theearphone terminal 10 is a terminal to which an earphone/microphone is tobe connected.

[0029] The web key 11 is used for switching what is displayed on themain display unit 2 to a screen for the Internet connection or a screenfor e-mail function. The web key 11 is also used for making use of theweb and the stations. In addition, the web key 11 is used for havingmenus displayed in each of which a selection can be made from variousitems, selecting an item, and receiving settings.

[0030] As for an example of the menus to be displayed with use of theweb key 11, there is a screen for making settings for the displayinginhibition mode. On this screen, the user is able to (i) switch thedisplay inhibition mode on/off, (ii) set a threshold value for thelength of a delimiter character sequence on which the display inhibitionis to be performed, and (iii) select which kind of delimiter charactersis to be the inhibition targets.

[0031] The side key 12 is used for taking photos with the camera (Inother words, the side key 12 works as a shutter button). The side key 12is also used for setting/canceling the simple answering machine mode,recording the voice of the caller, and playing what has been recorded.(In other words, the side key 12 also works as a MEMO button.) Theexternal connection terminal 13 is a terminal to which an externaldevice can be connected, such as a quick charger, a cigarette lightercharger, a mobile tool, and the like. The start key 14 is used forcommencing a call or transmission and reception of e-mail messages.

[0032] The antenna 15 transmits and receives communication radio waves.The receiver 16 provides sounds by playing the audio data received fromthe caller and other various message sound data. The speaker 17 providesring tones.

[0033] The sub display unit 18 is a color liquid crystal display, adigital mirror device (DMD), an organic electroluminescence (EL)display, or the like, and displays simple information that needs to bepresented to the user during a standby period or when the apparatusreceives a call, while the apparatus is closed and the main display unit2 cannot be viewed from outside. In addition, the sub display unit 18also works as an incoming call indicator lamp and a photo shooting lamp,which are usually provided separately. When the apparatus has received acall, the sub display unit 18 blinks in a color corresponding to eachcaller to notify the user of the incoming call. When a photo is to betaken, the sub display unit 18 emits light concurrently with themovement of releasing the shutter. When the communication terminalapparatus 1 is open, since detailed information is displayed on the maindisplay unit 2, the built-in back light of the sub display unit 18 getsturned off to save electricity.

[0034] The open/close detecting switch 19 is a microswitch thatmechanically detects that the communication terminal apparatus 1 isclosed, completely open, or partway open.

[0035] The battery pack 30 supplies electricity needed by variouscircuits in the communication terminal apparatus 1.

[0036] The built-in camera 31 receives light that comes in through thelens and takes a photo of an object with use of a CCD or a C-MOSartificial retina IC (for example, M64270AG by Mitsubishi Electric:Artificial Retina LSI comprising a lens) The mirror 32 is for reflectingthe user's image so that the user is able to see himself/herself whentaking a photo of himself/herself with the camera 31.

Functional Structure

[0037] The following explains the structure of the communicationterminal apparatus 1 in the present embodiment from a functional aspect.

[0038]FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram that shows the structure ofthe communication terminal apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. Thedrawing shows the structure of the communication terminal apparatus 1 ina case where it is a mobile terminal apparatus being a mobile phoneaccording to the CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) method based onthe IS-95 (Interim Standard 95); however, the method of communication isnot limited to the CDMA method, and it is also acceptable to use othermethods such as PDC (Personal Digital Cellular) or PHS (PersonalHandyphone System).

[0039] Among the components shown in FIG. 2, as for the components thatare also shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, explanation will be omitted andthey will have the same reference numbers. It should be noted that FIG.2 shows, in addition to some of the components that are visible fromoutside (the components shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C), the componentsthat perform processing inside the apparatus in cooperation with suchcomponents. For example, the main display unit 2′ shown in FIG. 2 is acombination of the main display unit 2 in FIG. 1B and the internalmechanism for having characters and images displayed thereon. Theoperation unit 23 comprises the flexible keys 3, the four-point button4, the e-mail key 5, the OK key 6, the end/power key 7, the ten keys 8,the web key 11, the side key 12, the start key 14, the open/closedetecting switch 19, and the internal mechanism that internallyprocesses information obtained from these components. The camera I/F 26performs processing related to the built-in camera 30. Receiving aninstruction for taking a photo from the user, the camera I/F 26instructs the built-in camera 30 to execute the photo taking process,and then stores the photo data obtained from the built-in camera 30 intothe RAM (Random Access Memory) 20 b.

[0040] Among the components shown in FIG. 2, the transmitting/receivingunit 21, the modulating/demodulating unit 22 (more specifically, a baseband processing unit), the audio processing unit 24, and the controllingunit 20 are not shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C. Among these, thecontrolling unit 20 functions as a primary component during the displayinhibition process, which is a technical feature of the communicationterminal apparatus 1. The following explains these components one byone.

[0041] The transmitting/receiving unit 21 transmits and receives radiowaves via the antenna 15. The transmitting/receiving unit 21 providessignals obtained in the received radio waves for themodulating/demodulating unit 22 so that it demodulates those signals.The transmitting/receiving unit 21 also transmits the signals modulatedby the modulating/demodulating unit 22 as radio waves.

[0042] The modulating/demodulating unit 22 (i) modulates signals ofvarious kinds of data and provides them for the transmitting/receivingunit 21 and (ii) demodulates the signals acquired from thetransmitting/receiving unit 21. Various kinds of data are audio dataduring the calls and non-audio data including character message dataincluded in outgoing and incoming e-mail messages. The character messagedata is once stored into the RAM 20 b and then will be displayed on thescreen by the main display unit 2′ in the form of character images.

[0043] Having demodulated signals included in the received audio data,the modulating/demodulating unit 22 provides the demodulated audio datasignals for the audio processing unit 24. Having demodulated signalsincluded in non-audio data such as character messages, themodulating/demodulating unit 22 provides the demodulated signals for thecontrolling unit 20.

[0044] The audio processing unit 24 processes, in a predeterminedmanner, the audio data signals acquired from the modulating/demodulatingunit 22, and then provides them for the speaker 16. The audio datasignals go through an electro-acoustic conversion process performed atthe speaker 16 and get outputted as sound. In addition, the audioprocessing unit 24 processes, in a predetermined manner, the audio datathat has gone through an acoustic-electric conversion process performedby the microphone 9, and provides the processed audio data signals forthe modulating/demodulating unit 22.

Controlling Unit 20

[0045] The controlling unit 20 not only controls the exchange of dataand instructions between other components and the user, but alsocontrols the display of delimiter characters such as spaces when acharacter message is to be displayed on the display. The controllingunit 20 comprises a microprocessor (not shown in the drawing), a ROM(Read Only Memory) 20 a, and the RAM 20 b. The microprocessor executesthe control program stored in the ROM 20 a.

[0046] The controlling unit 20 stores, into the RAM 20 b, informationprovided by the operation unit 23 and other components, as necessary.More specifically, such information includes: audio data to betransmitted or received, character message data, image data, telephonenumbers registered by the user, settings for various operational modes(e. g. the display inhibition mode). Such information is storedtemporarily or until the user performs an operation to delete or changeit. The controlling unit 20 outputs the once stored information and datato other components according to an instruction from the user, and haseach of those components perform processing including having a charactermessage displayed on the screen. When a character message is to bedisplayed, the controlling unit 20 temporarily stores the message datareceived from the modulating/demodulating unit 24 into the RAM 20 b, andchecks the message data to see if space characters are arranged in asequence. The controlling unit 20 then provides the character messagedata for the main display unit 2′ along with an instruction to inhibitthe excessive part of the sequence of space characters when it is longerthan a predetermined length from being displayed, so that the charactermessage will be displayed on the screen.

[0047] The following explains the processing performed by thecontrolling unit 20 when a character message is to be displayed.

[0048] At first, the controlling unit 20 receives, via the operationunit 23, an instruction from the user to have the message displayed.Having received the instruction, the controlling unit 20 reads themessage data stored in the RAM 20 b and provides it for the main displayunit 2. At this time, the controlling unit 20 checks for spacecharacters included in the message, and when it has been detected thattwo or more space characters are arranged in a sequence, the controllingunit 20 instructs the main display unit 2′ to display, on the screen,only one space character in place of the sequence of space characters.More specifically, the controlling unit 20 provides the main displayunit 2′ with display inhibition information which indicates that thespace characters positioned second and later should not be displayed, byattaching the information to the message data.

[0049] The controlling unit 20 also performs processing related to theon/off setting of the display inhibition mode. The user selects the itemfor “display inhibition mode setting” from the mode setting windowdisplayed on the main display unit 2′ and specifies either “turn themode on” or “turn the mode off”. The operation unit 23 informs thecontrolling unit 20 that this is a choice about “the display inhibitionmode setting” and which one is selected either ON or OFF. Thecontrolling unit 20 stores, in an area for “display inhibitioninformation” in the RAM 20 b, the choice of either ON or OFF, which hasbeen notified by the operation unit 23.

[0050] Further, it is also acceptable to receive, from the user, asetting for a value of the upper limit for the length of a spacecharacter sequence in the mode setting window. In such a case, after theuser turns the display inhibition mode on, the controlling unit 20 has awindow displayed in which the number of characters can be specified sothat the user inputs the number of characters desired in the window. Thecontrolling unit 20 stores the value indicating the number of charactersinto the built-in RAM 20 b. The value will be referred to during theprocess of displaying a character message. Likewise, it is alsoacceptable to allow the user to specify other delimiter characters to bethe display inhibition targets besides space characters. Also, in such acase, after the user turns the display inhibition mode on, thecontrolling unit 20 has a window displayed in which a kind of delimitercharacters can be specified so as to receive a choice of the kind. Thecontrolling unit 20 stores what has been specified into the built-in RAM20 b. This information will be referred to during the process ofdisplaying a character message.

Operation

[0051] The following explains the operations for having a charactermessage displayed, which is performed by the communication terminalapparatus of the present invention structured as above, with referenceto the drawings.

[0052]FIG. 3 is a flow chart that shows the character message displayprocess performed by the communication terminal apparatus 1.

[0053] Firstly, the user instructs, with use of the operation unit 23,that a message included in a piece of received e-mail should bedisplayed. This instruction is sent to the controlling unit 20, and themessage display process starts (S301). The controlling unit 20 refers tothe display inhibition mode information stored in the RAM 20 b andchecks the mode, ON or OFF.

[0054] When the display inhibition mode is OFF, in other words, underthe setting where space characters in a sequence will be displayed asthey are (S302: No), after reading the character message data from theRAM 20 b, the controlling unit 20 outputs the character message data tothe main display unit 2′ without attaching display inhibitioninformation thereto and instructs that the character message should bedisplayed on the screen (S303). In such a case, since there is nodisplay inhibition information, all of the space characters in thesequence will be displayed. The heading will be displayed in two lines.

[0055]FIG. 4A shows how a character message is displayed in a case wherethe display inhibition mode is OFF. In the drawing, “□” denotes onespace character.

[0056] On the other hand, when the display inhibition mode is ON, inother words, under the setting where the space characters positionedsecond and later in a sequence will be inhibited from being displayed(S302: Yes), the controlling unit 20 provides the main display unit 2′with display inhibition information indicating the space characters tobe the display inhibition target along with the character data of themessage, so that the message will be displayed in such a manner thatpart of the space characters are inhibited from being displayed. Thedisplay inhibition information indicates the position (i. e. the m'thposition to the n'th position from the beginning of the message) of thecharacter data being the display inhibition target. The followingspecifically explains about the display inhibition process.

[0057] At first, the controlling unit 20 initializes the sequencecounter and the position counter (sets each of them at zero) (S304). Thesequence counter is for counting the number of space characters arrangedin a sequence. The position counter indicates the position of each spacecharacter (x'th piece of character data from the beginning of themessage data).

[0058] The controlling unit 20 reads character data for one characterafter another from the message data stored in the RAM 20 b. Every timethe controlling unit 20 reads character data for one character, thecontrolling unit 20 increments the position counter by one (S305). Thecontrolling unit 20 then checks if the read character is a spacecharacter or not. When the read character is a space character (S306:Yes), the controlling unit 20 increments the sequence counter by 1(S307).

[0059] Subsequently, the controlling unit 20 compares the value on thesequence counter after the increment with the threshold value (“2”)(S308). When the value on the sequence counter is the same as or largerthan the threshold value, it is necessary to perform the displayinhibition of space characters, the controlling unit 20 registers thosespace characters as a target of display inhibition. More specifically,the controlling unit 20 reserves an area in the RAM 20 b and storestherein the value on the position counter at this point (S309). Theprocedure then returns to S305.

[0060] When the value on the sequence counter is smaller than thethreshold value (S308: No), display inhibition information will not begenerated, and the procedure returns to S305.

[0061] As a result of the checking in Step S306 as to whether the readcharacter is a space character or not, when it turns out that “it is nota space character” (S306: No), the controlling unit 20 sets the value onthe sequence counter back at zero (S312), and the procedure returns toStep S305 where the controlling unit 20 reads the next piece ofcharacter data.

[0062] The procedure above (Steps S305 to S310) will be repeated untilthere is no more character data to be read and checked (S311: Yes). Whenall of the character data finishes to be processed, the controlling unit20 puts together the stored positional information of the character databeing the display inhibition target so as to generate display inhibitioninformation. The controlling unit 20 then provides the main display unit2′ with this display inhibition information along with the charactermessage data and instructs that the character message should bedisplayed on the screen (S312). When the procedure above is carried outon the character message shown in FIG. 4A, the display inhibitioninformation reads “characters positioned second, third, sixth, ninth,twelfth, fifteenth, and eighteenth are inhibited from being displayed”.

[0063]FIG. 4B shows how the character message is displayed on the screenwhen the display inhibition mode is on. Five space characters in totalare inhibited from being displayed, and the heading is displayed in oneline.

[0064] It should be noted that when a plurality of kinds of delimitercharacters are specified as display inhibition targets, the procedureshown in FIG. 3 will be executed on each kind of delimiter characters.

[0065] As explained so far, with the communication terminal apparatus 1of the present embodiment, when a character message that includesdelimiter characters arranged in a sequence is to be displayed, part ofthe sequence of the delimiter characters will be inhibited from beingdisplayed; therefore, it is possible to avoid inconvenient situationswhere it is difficult to read the text on the screen because ofunnecessary line feeds or it is required to scroll the screenfrequently.

[0066] In addition, in the embodiment above, the display inhibitionprocess for space characters are executed in such a manner that thecontrolling unit 20 provides the main display unit 2′ with the charactermessage data to which display inhibition information is attached so thatthe main display unit 2′ displays the character message according to thedisplay inhibition information; however, it is also acceptable toexecute display inhibition in other different ways. For example, it isacceptable that (i) when providing the main display unit with charactermessage data, the controlling unit does not provide the data for thespace characters being the display inhibition targets (in which case,the main display unit merely displays all the character data having beenprovided, without reservation) or (ii) the controlling unit deletes thedata for the space characters being the display inhibition targets fromthe character message data stored in the RAM 20 b before it is providedfor the main display unit.

[0067] It should be noted that, although only delimiter charactersincluded in e-mail messages are taken as display inhibition targets inthe embodiment above, it is also possible to apply the similar displayinhibition process to delimiter characters that are included in acharacter data sequence downloaded from a website.

Industrial Applicability

[0068] The present invention is effective with a terminal apparatus thatdisplays character data on a small-sized display screen, andparticularly with a communication terminal apparatus that displays, on adisplay screen, character messages included in e-mail messages.

1. A communication terminal apparatus that receives and displays, on adisplay unit, pieces of character data, comprising: a temporary storageunit, operable to store therein the received pieces of character data; adetecting unit operable to detect, among the received pieces ofcharacter data, an overlong delimiter string which is made up of piecesof data that are for delimiters of a predetermined kind and are arrangedin a sequence longer than a predetermined upper limit; an inhibitiontarget specifying unit operable to generate display inhibitioninformation that identifies positions of one or more of the pieces ofdata that are included in the overlong delimiter string and arespecified as an inhibition target, which is to be inhibited from beingdisplayed; and a display controlling unit operable to display, on thedisplay unit, the received pieces of character data stored in thetemporary storage unit, except for the inhibition target.
 2. Thecommunication terminal apparatus of claim 1, further comprising adesignation receiving unit operable to receive a designation of whetherit is necessary to perform the display inhibition on delimiters, andwhen the designation receiving unit receives a designation that it isnecessary, the detecting unit performs the detection of the overlongdelimiter string.
 3. The communication terminal apparatus of claim 1,further comprising an upper limit receiving unit operable to receive inadvance a value specified as the predetermined upper limit.
 4. Thecommunication terminal apparatus of claim 1, further comprising aspecified-kind receiving unit operable to receive what kind of delimiteris specified as the predetermined kind.
 5. The communication terminalapparatus, claim 1, wherein the delimiters are space characters.
 6. Acharacter displaying method to be used in a communication terminalapparatus that receives and displays, on a display unit, pieces ofcharacter data, the character displaying method comprising: a storingstep of storing the received pieces of character data into a temporarystorage unit; a detecting step of detecting, among the received piecesof character data, an overlong delimiter string which is made up ofpieces of data that are for delimiters of a predetermined kind and arearranged in a sequence longer than a predetermined upper limit; aninhibition target specifying step of generating display inhibitioninformation that identifies positions of one or more pieces of data thatare included in the overlong delimiter string and are specified as aninhibition target, which is to be inhibited from being displayed; and adisplay controlling step of displaying, on the display unit, thereceived pieces of character data stored in the temporary storage unit,except for the inhibition target.
 7. A program for having a computerexecute processing of a communication terminal apparatus serving as acharacter display apparatus that receives and displays, on a displayunit, pieces of character data, the character display apparatuscomprising: a temporary storage unit operable to store therein thereceived pieces of character data; a detecting unit operable to detect,among the received pieces of character data, an overlong delimiterstring which is made up of pieces of data that are for delimiters of apredetermined kind and are arranged in a sequence longer than apredetermined upper limit; an inhibition target specifying unit operableto generate display inhibition information that identifies positions ofone or more of the pieces of data that are included in the overlongdelimiter string and are specified as an inhibition target, which is tobe inhibited from being displayed; and a display controlling unitoperable to display, on the display unit, the received pieces ofcharacter data stored in the temporary storage unit, except for theinhibition target.
 8. The communication terminal apparatus claim 2,wherein the delimiters are space characters.
 9. The communicationterminal apparatus claim 3, wherein the delimiters are space characters.10. The communication terminal apparatus claim 4, wherein the delimitersare space characters.